Manual input device with force feedback function and vehicle-mounted equipment controller using same

a technology of input device and input lever, which is applied in the direction of electric programme control, program control, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of requiring more power consumption, unable to correct the operation of the gear shifter, and the disagreement between the engagement status of the actual gear and the shift status of the shift lever

Inactive Publication Date: 2003-07-08
ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In this arrangement, the actuator for applying an external force to the knob is controlled by the control signal generated in accordance with the external signal outputted from the external sensor. This allows fine-grained control of the actuator depending on the state of the external device. This arrangement, therefore, can prevent a disagreement between the driving state of the external device and the operation state of the knob, thereby enhancing the operability and reliability of the manual input device. In addition, the control portion is provided in the manual input device and all the detection signals and external signals are inputted to the control portion. This eliminates the need for making a change to the external device, thereby facilitating the application of the manual input device to the external device.
Preferably, the sensor is coupled with the knob via a power transmission portion. With this arrangement, because the sensor is coupled with the knob via the power transmission portion, the versatility of connecting the sensor, actuator, and knob is enhanced.

Problems solved by technology

In this case, however, electric power must be constantly supplied to the actuator 103 during the period of time when the shift lever is switched to a certain position, thus requiring more power consumption.
However, this may cause disagreement between the engagement status of the actual gears and the shift status of the shift lever.
As a result, this arrangement makes it impossible for the gear shifter to operate the transmission in a correct manner.
Furthermore, an unforeseen transmission shift could occur, which may cause an accidental operation such as a sudden stop or sudden deceleration.
The known manual input device, therefore, has problems of difficulty in appropriately adjusting the functions depending on the state of the vehicle-mounted electric equipment, thus resulting in a usability which cannot necessarily be called favorable.

Method used

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  • Manual input device with force feedback function and vehicle-mounted equipment controller using same
  • Manual input device with force feedback function and vehicle-mounted equipment controller using same
  • Manual input device with force feedback function and vehicle-mounted equipment controller using same

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

fifth embodiment

As a first application example of the manual input device, a variable speed controller for an automatic transmission vehicle to which the slide-type manual input device 1E is applied will be described below with reference to FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, a variable speed controller of this example includes an external device that is connected to the input / output portion 7 of the manual input device 1E. This external device includes a transmission controller 21, a fork driving portion 22 having an actuator such as a solenoid or linear motor which is controlled by the transmission controller 21, and external device sensing means 23 such as an encoder or potentiometer for detecting the driving state of the driving portion 22, and a fork switch 24 which is operated by the driving portion 22. The external device further includes a transmission 25 having gears whose engagement is switched by the fork switch 24, and a revolution sensor 26 for detecting the RPM of the output shaft of the tran...

second application example

of Manual Input Device

The second application example of the manual input device will now be described with reference-to FIG. 10. In this example, the slide-type manual input device 1E according to the fifth embodiment is also applied to the variable speed controller of an automatic transmission vehicle. However, unlike the first application example in which the external signal b1 and b2 are transmitted from the external device control portion 28 to the control portion a, this second example is characterized in that the raw detection signal a and the external signals b1 and b2, or the external signals b1 and b2 are converted to control information e that is simpler in data structure, and the control information e is sent to the control portion 8.

Thus, the memory 28b of the external device control portion 28 contains a conversion program for converting the detection signal a and the external signals b1 and b2, or the external signals b1 and b2, which are inputted to the CPU 28a, into ...

third application example

of Manual Input Device

A third application example of the manual input device will now be described with reference to FIG. 11. In this application example, the manual input device 1H according to the eighth embodiment is applied to the variable speed controller of an automatic transmission vehicle, and is characterized in that the control signal c for the actuator 5 is transmitted from the external device control portion 28 to the manual input device 1H.

Thus, the memory 28b of the external device control portion 28 stores the data and program for analyzing the detection signal a and the external signals b1 and b2, or the external signals b1 and b2, which are inputted to the CPU 28a, as well as the driving data and driving program for the actuator 5. The CPU 28a repeatedly activates the driving program to generate the control signal c, corresponding to the inputted detection signal a and the external signals b1 and b2, or the external signals b1 and b2, for the actuator 5, and then ou...

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PUM

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Abstract

A manual input device and a vehicle-mounted equipment controller are provided. The manual input device includes: a knob secured to an operation shaft and sensing portion for detecting the operation state of the operation shaft; an actuator to apply force to the knob; a power transmission portion for transmitting power between the operation shaft and a drive shaft of the actuator; and an input / output portion to send a first signal to the external device and to receive a second signal from an external device. The device further includes a control portion for generating a control signal for the actuator in accordance with an external signal outputted from an external sensing portion, or in accordance with control information generated in accordance with, at least, the external signal. The vehicle-mounted equipment controller includes selection switches for vehicle-mounted electric equipment, function selection switches, and the manual input device to adjust functions of the vehicle-mounted electric equipment selected.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThis invention relates to a manual input device with a force feedback function and a vehicle-mounted equipment controller using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to control means for controlling an actuator that applies an external force as a feedback force to a knob.2. Description of the Related ArtConventionally, to provide a satisfying sensation while manipulating a knob and to secure the operation thereof, a manual input device with a force feedback function has been known which provides the knob with a sense of resistance and / or thrust corresponding to the amount and direction of manipulation of the knob.Referring to FIG. 17, an example of a manual input device of the known type is illustrated. The known manual input device includes a knob 101, sensing means 102 for detecting the amount and direction of manipulation of the knob 101, and an actuator 103 for applying an external force to the knob 101. The manual input device furth...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G05B19/10G05B19/04G05B19/02
CPCG05B19/106B60K37/06H01H2003/008B60K2350/102B60K2370/126B60K2370/158G05G5/03G05B19/02
Inventor NUMATA, HIDETAKAONODERA, MIKIOSEINO, KENICHI
Owner ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
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